Aircrew automation system and method

ABSTRACT

An aircrew automation system and method for use in an aircraft. The aircrew automation system comprises one or more processors, an optical perception system, an actuation system, and a human-machine interface. The optical perception system monitors, in real-time, one or more cockpit instruments of the aircraft visually to generate flight situation data. The actuation system mechanically engages at least one flight control of the aircraft in response to the one or more flight commands. The human-machine interface provides an interface between a human pilot and the aircrew automation system. The human-machine interface comprises a display device to display a status of the aircraft and the actuation system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/464,786, filed on Mar. 21, 2017, entitled “Aircrew Automation System and Method,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos.: 62/311,659, filed on Mar. 22, 2016, and 62/383,032, filed on Sep. 2, 2016, each entitled “Aircrew Automation System and Method.” Each application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST

This invention was made with government support under Contract Number: HR0011-15-0027 awarded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The government has certain rights in the invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of flight control systems, methods, and apparatuses; even more particularly, to a system, method, and apparatus for providing aircraft state monitoring and/or an automated aircrew.

BACKGROUND

Recent experience with automation in cockpits has shown that prior approaches of adding additional functionality to flight decks increases complexity, causes overreliance on automation, and may not necessarily reduce workload, especially during critical situations. An additional challenge is that avionics manufacturers have instituted strict requirements-based design and change orders for any desired improvements, in order to provide high reliability and verifiability. Thus, conversion of legacy aircraft is generally cost prohibitive and requires a large capital investment in requirements, verification, and testing.

Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation of Manassas, Va. has previously developed a right-seat pilot assistant capable of operating a Diamond DA42 Twin Star during takeoff, cruise, and landing. The right-seat pilot assistant, called Centaur, can be installed into, and removed from, the DA42 without affecting the original type certificate, thus maintaining the aircraft's original certification. Centaur includes mechanical actuation of the primary flight controls and its own avionics suite, and may be used with a pilot in a supervisory role or as a fully unmanned aircraft. For example, Centaur may be flown by an operator in the back seat of the airplane, directing the flight plan on a laptop. While Centaur offers many features, it suffers from certain drawbacks. In particular, (1) the Centaur hardware is not portable to other aircraft, nor is the software plug-and-pay extensible to other capabilities; (2) parts of the Centaur system are invasive and require cutting into existing avionics wiring in a manner very specific to the aircraft (i.e., the DA42); (3) Centaur does not allow the onboard pilot to be the operator and to perform tasks such as directing the flight plan; and (4) Centaur does not acquire knowledge about the aircraft it is operating.

Thus, a need exists for an open architecture system that enables quick introduction of new capabilities, increases safety, grows functionality, and reduces pilot workload—without large expense or recertification. There is also a need to provide a pilot with continuous aircraft state monitoring and information augmentation, which can effectively serve as a digital flight engineer. An aircrew automation system, such as is disclosed herein, addresses these needs and enables new capabilities to be rapidly introduced with minimal certification burden while being portable across airframes (e.g., via temporary installations). As will be discussed, the aircrew automation system can provide significant benefit to a variety of end-users. An example application includes the operation of aircraft where fatigue and boredom can cause a reduction in crew attentiveness, in which case the aircrew automation system reduces risk in a flight operation by alerting the pilot and, in certain instances, assuming control of the aircraft. Other example applications exist where the potential for human error currently limits extensive use of aircraft (e.g., low-altitude operations), synchronized operations, unmanned flights, unmanned formations with manned flight lead, and improved debrief capabilities due to comprehensive data logging.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to flight control systems, methods, and apparatuses; even more particularly, to a system, method, and apparatus for providing aircraft state monitoring and/or automated aircrew.

According to a first aspect, an aircrew automation system for use in an aircraft comprises: a core platform to operatively connect a plurality of systems or subsystems via one or more interfaces; a human-machine interface operatively coupled with the core platform to provide an interface between a pilot and the aircrew automation system; a knowledge acquisition system operatively coupled with the core platform to determine information specific to the aircraft; and a perception system operatively coupled with the core platform to monitor one or more cockpit instruments of the aircraft to generate flight situation data.

According to a second aspect, an aircrew automation system for use in an aircraft comprises: a core platform to operatively connect a plurality of systems or subsystems via one or more interfaces; a human-machine interface operatively coupled with the core platform to provide an interface between a pilot and the aircrew automation system; a knowledge acquisition system operatively coupled with the core platform to determine information specific to the aircraft; an aircraft state monitoring system coupled with the core platform to collect or generate flight situation data; and an actuation system operatively coupled with the core platform to actuate one or flight controls of the aircraft based in response to commands from the core platform.

According to a third aspect, an aircrew automation system for use in an aircraft comprises: a core platform to operatively connect a plurality of systems or subsystems via one or more interfaces; a human-machine interface operatively coupled with the core platform to provide an interface between a pilot and the aircrew automation system, the human-machine interface is configured to display a plurality of tasks via a touch-screen display in a form of a task list; a knowledge acquisition system operatively coupled with the core platform to determine information specific to the aircraft; and an aircraft state monitoring system coupled with the core platform to collect or generate flight situation data.

According to a fourth aspect, an aircrew automation system for use in an aircraft comprises: a knowledge acquisition system to determine information specific to the aircraft; a perception system to monitor one or more cockpit instruments of the aircraft to generate flight situation data; a core platform operatively connected with the knowledge acquisition system and the perception system to determine a state of the aircraft based at least in part on said flight situation data; and a human-machine interface operatively coupled with the core platform to display the state of the aircraft.

According to a fifth aspect, an aircrew automation system for use in an aircraft comprises: a knowledge acquisition system to determine information specific to the aircraft; an aircraft state monitoring system to monitor one or more cockpit instruments of the aircraft to generate flight situation data; a core platform operatively connected with the knowledge acquisition system and the aircraft state monitoring system to determine a state of the aircraft based at least in part on said flight situation data; and a human-machine interface operatively coupled with the core platform to display the state of the aircraft.

In certain aspects, the aircrew automation system is vehicle-agnostic.

In certain aspects, the aircraft state monitoring system is a perception system.

In certain aspects, the aircraft state monitoring system is hardwired to one or more cockpit instruments.

In certain aspects, the aircrew automation system employs an operating system that operates as the middleware to interconnect one or more operational applications or hardware interfaces.

In certain aspects, the aircrew automation system is configured to provide a pilot with continuous aircraft state monitoring and information augmentation with or without taking control of the aircraft.

In certain aspects, the autopilot manager is configured to control an aircrew automation actuation module or an aircraft actuation module.

In certain aspects, the commands from the core platform are generated based at least in part on the state of the aircraft.

In certain aspects, the core platform displays the current aircraft state via a display of the human-machine interface.

In certain aspects, the core platform employs an open architecture.

In certain aspects, the core platform includes a flight controller system and/or a mission control system.

In certain aspects, the core platform is configured to communicate one or more commands to a flight control system of the aircraft based at least in part on the flight situation data.

In certain aspects, the core platform is configured to develop, using information collected from one or more systems coupled thereto, an understanding of the aircraft's systems, configurations, and procedures necessary to maintain safe operation.

In certain aspects, the core platform is configured to receive and aggregate the flight situation data to determine a current aircraft state.

In certain aspects, the core platform is configured with plug and play software to enable (1) removal or disability of systems or subsystems or (2) installation or activation of systems or subsystems.

In certain aspects, the flight controller system includes one or more of an autopilot manager, a vehicle manager, a state estimation module, a perception module, or a navigation module.

In certain aspects, the flight situation data includes airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed of the aircraft.

In certain aspects, the hardware interfaces include at least one of a primary actuation interface, a secondary actuation interface, an aircraft state interface, or an HMI interface.

In certain aspects, the human-machine interface is a tablet computer.

In certain aspects, the human-machine interface enables a pilot to control and communicate with the aircrew automation system.

In certain aspects, the human-machine interface includes a tool bar with a plurality of selectable tabs.

In certain aspects, the human-machine interface includes a touch-screen display.

In certain aspects, the touch-screen display is compatible with night-vision goggles.

In certain aspects, the human-machine interface is configured to display a plurality of tasks on the touch-screen display in a form of a task list. In certain aspects, each of the plurality of tasks is marked as either completed or not completed, for example, based at least in part on a pilot input via a touch-screen display.

In certain aspects, the human-machine interface is configured to display at least one of checklists, health alerts, predictions of aircraft state, and failure prognosis.

In certain aspects, the human-machine interface employs speech-recognition techniques to recognize a verbal communication from the pilot.

In certain aspects, the human-machine interface is configured to general verbal response to the verbal communication from the pilot.

In certain aspects, the information specific to the aircraft includes whether the aircraft is susceptible to a particular operational error.

In certain aspects, the knowledge acquisition system is configured to determine information specific to the aircraft to yield a vehicle-agnostic aircrew automation system.

In certain aspects, the knowledge acquisition system is configured to determine the layout of the cockpit instruments.

In certain aspects, the operational applications include at least one of a normal flight operation application, an anomaly detection application, a contingency operation application, an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (“ISR”) application, a trend recognition application, or an aerial refueling application.

In certain aspects, the perception system includes a vision system having a camera to visually monitor one or more cockpit instruments of the aircraft.

In certain aspects, the plurality of selectable tabs includes one or more of a route tab, a procedures tab, a calibration tab, and an applications tab.

In certain aspects, the aircrew automation system further comprises an actuation system operatively coupled with the core platform.

In certain aspects, the actuation system comprises a primary actuation system and a secondary actuation system that is separate from the primary actuation system.

In certain aspects, the aircrew automation system is configured to control of the aircraft via an/the actuation system.

In certain aspects, the primary actuation system controls actuation of the aircraft's primary flight controls and/or the secondary actuation system controls actuation of the aircraft's secondary flight controls.

In certain aspects, the aircraft's primary flight controls include one or more stick controls or yoke controls.

In certain aspects, the aircraft's secondary flight controls include one or more switches and/or knobs.

In certain aspects, the primary actuation system includes a frame, an articulating arm coupled at its proximal end to the frame, and a gripper positioned at a distal end of the articulating arm to engage at least one of the aircraft's primary flight controls.

In certain aspects, the primary actuation system includes an articulating arm with a gripper to engage at least one of the aircraft's primary flight controls.

In certain aspects, the gripper is coupled to the articulating arm via a multiple-DOF (degree of freedom) connection.

In certain aspects, the articulating arm is rotatable and slideably coupled at its proximal end to the frame via a movable base.

In certain aspects, the secondary actuation system includes an XY-plotter defining a Y-axis and an X-axis, a tool to engage at least one of the aircraft's secondary flight controls, and a control system to move the tool along the Y-axis and the X-axis.

In certain aspects, the tool is a multi-tool configured with a switch actuator and a knob actuator, to engage a switch or a knob, respectively.

DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the present disclosure may be readily understood with the reference to the following specifications and attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1a illustrates a block diagram of an example aircrew automation system.

FIG. 1b illustrates an example flow of information data between the subsystems of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 1c illustrates a block diagram of an example core platform.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of an example core platform architecture.

FIG. 3a illustrates a first example human-machine interface illustrating a route application.

FIG. 3b illustrates a second example human-machine interface illustrating a procedural checklist and aircraft health alert screen.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an example perception system.

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate an example primary actuation system.

FIG. 5c illustrates an example secondary actuation system.

DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure may be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail because they may obscure the disclosure in unnecessary detail. For this disclosure, the following terms and definitions shall apply.

As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer to physical electronic components (i.e., hardware) and any software and/or firmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As used herein, for example, a particular processor and memory may comprise a first “circuit” when executing a first set of one or more lines of code and may comprise a second “circuit” when executing a second set of one or more lines of code.

As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. In other words, “x and/or y” means “one or both of x and y”. As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. In other words, “x, y and/or z” means “one or more of x, y and z”. As utilized herein, the term “exemplary” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms “e.g.,” and “for example” set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations.

As used herein, the words “about” and “approximately,” when used to modify or describe a value (or range of values), mean reasonably close to that value or range of values. Thus, the embodiments described herein are not limited to only the recited values and ranges of values, but rather should include reasonably workable deviations. As utilized herein, circuitry or a device is “operable” to perform a function whenever the circuitry or device comprises the necessary hardware and code (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether performance of the function is disabled, or not enabled (e.g., by a user-configurable setting, factory trim, etc.).

As used herein, the terms “aerial vehicle” and “aircraft” refer to a machine capable of flight, including, but not limited to, both traditional runway and vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) aircraft. VTOL aircraft may include fixed-wing aircraft (e.g., Harrier jets), rotorcraft (e.g., helicopters), and/or tilt-rotor/tilt-wing aircraft.

As used herein, the terms “communicate” and “communicating” refer to (1) transmitting, or otherwise conveying, data from a source to a destination, and/or (2) delivering data to a communications medium, system, channel, network, device, wire, cable, fiber, circuit, and/or link to be conveyed to a destination. The term “database” as used herein means an organized body of related data, regardless of the manner in which the data or the organized body thereof is represented. For example, the organized body of related data may be in the form of one or more of a table, a map, a grid, a packet, a datagram, a frame, a file, an e-mail, a message, a document, a report, a list, or data presented in any other form.

Disclosed herein is a system configured to, inter alia, function as a pilot's assistant (or co-pilot) or flight engineer. Such an aircrew automation system may be configured to operate an aircraft from takeoff to landing, automatically executing the necessary flight and flight plan activities, checklists, and procedures at the correct phases of flight, while detecting contingencies and responding to them. At the same time, the pilot (e.g., a human pilot or operator) may be continuously informed through an intuitive human-machine interface operatively coupled with the aircrew automation system. That is, the aircrew automation system may provide real-time information and/or feedback to the pilot. For example, the aircrew automation system may indicate a state of the aircraft relative to the procedure being accomplished. The aircrew automation system may be configured to take back control of the aircraft through robotic actuators, if desired.

In doing so, the pilot is enabled to perform tasks best suited for humans, such as high-level decision-making and flight plan planning. Tasks best suited for automation, however, may be handled by the aircrew automation system, including, for example, the manipulation of controls, executing checklists, and monitoring aircraft engine and performance data. Additionally, the aircrew automation system may have the capability to access external information that is either currently unavailable to pilots or that which only comes with experience, such as common system failures for a particular aircraft or how air traffic control commonly routes traffic at a particular airport. The aircrew automation system may be configured to operate as an assistant or as the primary pilot, thereby, if so configured, entirely obviating the need for a human operator. Alternatively, the aircrew automation system may serve to provide a pilot with continuous aircraft state monitoring and information augmentation, without actually taking control of the aircraft. For example, the aircrew automation system may serve as a “second set of eyes” for the pilot, monitoring checklists, instrumentation, engine state, airspace, flight regime, etc.

Unlike existing robotic autopilots and pilot assist systems, which are invasive, require considerable installation expertise, and are aircraft-specific, an aircrew automation system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure employs a system architecture and knowledge acquisition system that enables rapid non-invasive installation, which facilitates widespread use and enables the aircrew automation system to be quickly adapted for use in a variety of aircraft. Further, the aircrew automation system's data collection and perception systems are not limited to GPS, accelerations, orientation, and heading, as is the case with existing robotic autopilots. Indeed, the aircrew automation system exceeds the capability of existing data collection and perception systems to better capture aircraft performance by employing both standalone sensors, instrument image data capture (e.g., temperature, altitude, radar, flap angles, etc.), and measuring, detecting, or otherwise receiving pilot inputs. Further, the aircrew automation system's core platform and design of the primary and secondary flight control actuation systems enables portability across a variety of aircraft. Thus, unlike existing robotic autopilots or pilot assist systems, the aircrew automation system may be temporarily installed and readily transferred from aircraft to aircraft, without invasive modification to the aircraft. The aircrew automation system, through its modular design, further reduces the likelihood of designing a single point solution that becomes obsolete as aircraft evolve.

The aircrew automation system's combination of subsystems provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies that pilot of any deviations in expected state based on, for example, predictive models. This state awareness may be translated directly into useful information for the pilot, such as alerts to developing emergency conditions, fuel state computation, notification of icing conditions, etc. For example, the aircrew automation system may also serve as a digital flight engineer, thereby advising the pilot by monitoring checklists, instrumentation, engine state, airspace, flight regime, etc.

This ride-along aircrew automation system, which may be non-invasively installed in preexisting aircraft, perceives the state of the aircraft visually and via other sensors, derives the aircraft state vector and other aircraft information, and communicates any deviations from expected aircraft state to the pilot or a control tower. While the aircrew automation system may be non-invasively installed (e.g., via a perception system), it may alternatively be invasive. For example, the aircrew automation system may electronically couple with the cockpit instrument panel (e.g., via the reverse side of the instrument panel) via, for example, the aircraft state monitoring system. Alternatively, the aircrew automation system may be integral and permanently installed during fabrication of the aircraft. In conjunction with an actuation system, the aircrew automation system may further take control of the aircraft and autonomously navigate the aircraft.

System Level Architecture.

To share the duties and workload related to the execution of flight activities, the aircrew automation system 100 should be capable of executing the actions a pilot would perform routinely over the duration of a flight, regardless of the aircraft make, model, or type. An example system architecture for an aircrew automation system 100 in accordance with one aspect is shown in FIGS. 1a through 1c . As illustrated in FIG. 1a , the core platform 102 may operate as a central subsystem that connects the other subsystems via one or more interfaces. The subsystems may communicate with one another through software and/or hardware interfaces 156 using wired and/or wireless communication protocols and hardware. FIG. 1b illustrates an example flow of information (e.g., data) between the various subsystems.

The aircrew automation system 100 may comprise a core platform 102 operatively coupled with a plurality of subsystems, such as those listed below. Each of the plurality of subsystems of the aircrew automation system 100 may be modular, such that the entire aircrew automation system 100 can be substantially ported to another aircraft rapidly. For example, the various subsystems may be removably and communicatively coupled to one another via the core platform 102 using one or more software and/or hardware interfaces 156. In certain aspects, however, the aircrew automation system 100 may alternatively be integral with the aircraft's system, thereby directly employing all sensors and indicators in the airplane. For example, the aircrew automation system 100, or components thereof, may be integrated into the aircraft during its design and manufacturing.

The plurality of subsystems may include, for example, a perception system 106, an actuation system 108, a human-machine interface (“HMI”) system 104, and a flight control system 116, each of which may be operatively coupled with the core platform 102. In certain aspects, the need for a perception system 106 may be mitigated or obviated via use of another aircraft state monitoring system. For example, the aircrew automation system 100 may be coupled (e.g., communicatively or electronically) with the instrument panel, or be otherwise integrated with the aircraft or its systems. As can be expected, however, such integration would likely require a degree of modification to the aircraft or its wiring. The aircrew automation system 100 and/or core platform 102 may also comprise, or be operatively coupled to, a knowledge acquisition system 114 and a communication system 122. The modular configuration further enables the operator to remove/disable unnecessary systems or modules or to add/install additional systems or modules. For example, when the aircrew automation system 100 is configured to only provide information to the pilot via the HMI system 104 (i.e., without the ability to control the aircraft), the actuation system 108 may be removed or disabled to reduce weight, cost, and/or power consumption. Accordingly, depending on the configuration, the aircrew automation system 100 may be configured with fewer or additional modules, components, or systems without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

In operation, the flight control system 116 derives the aircraft state based on information data from another subsystem (e.g., perception system 106) and directs another subsystem (e.g., the actuation system 108) to operate (e.g., dynamically) in a manner to maintain aircraft stability. For example, the flight control system 116 may receive vehicle mode commands and configuration data from the core platform 102, while sending to the core platform 102 status and command information generated by the flight control system 116. For example, the core platform may be configured to communicate one or more commands to the flight control system 116 of the aircraft based at least in part on the flight situation data, which may be obtained from the aircraft state monitoring system 112, the perception system 106, or a combination thereof.

The flight control system 116 may include, or communicate with, existing flight control devices or systems, such as those used in fixed wing aircraft and rotary wing aircraft. The communication system 122 enables the aircrew automation system 100 to communicate with other devices (including remote or distant devices) via, for example, a network. The communication system 122 may receive communication commands and configuration data from the core platform 102, while sending to the core platform 102 status and response information from the communication system 122.

Core Platform 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates an architecture diagram of an example core platform 102. To enable a vehicle-agnostic aircrew automation system 100, a core platform 102 may provide, or otherwise serve as, middleware that can be made specific to a particular aircraft or configuration through an initial transition and setup phase. In other words, the mission control system 110 may provide an operating system 206 that provides services to a set of operational applications 202 and output signals to one or more of a set of hardware interfaces 204 or HMI system 104, while collecting and logging the data necessary to enable those applications.

The core platform 102 serves as the primary autonomous agent and decision-maker, which synthesizes inputs from the perception system 106 and HMI system 104 with its acquired knowledge base to determine the overall system state. The core platform 102 may process inputs from the various sensor suites and aggregate the resultant information into an understanding of current aircraft state. The resultant information may be compared against an aircraft specific file that encompasses aircrew automation system's 100 understanding of pilot intent, system health, and understanding of appropriate aircraft procedures as they relate to the aircrew automation system's 100 state estimation. The resultant state knowledge and associated recommendations can be passed to a human pilot via the HMI system 104 or, in certain aspects, to the flight control system 116 and/or actuation system 108 to enable autonomous operation. The aircrew automation system 100 may further generate a log of a given flight for later analysis, which may be used to facilitate pilot training that can provide detailed training and operations flight debriefs. The logs may be used in connection with, for example, flight operational quality assurance analysis, maintenance analysis, etc.

As illustrated, the core platform 102 may comprise a mission control system 110 and flight controllers 118, each of which are configured to communicate with one another and the other subsystems via one or more software and/or hardware interfaces 156, which may be a combination of hardware (e.g., permanent or removable connectors) and software. The core platform 102 can host various software processes that track the aircraft and procedure states, as well as any modules for trend analytics (predictive warnings) and machine learning routines. In certain aspects, the aircrew automation system 100 and/or core platform 102 may employ a computer bus and specification (e.g., as an interface) that facilitates discovery of a hardware component of a subsystem within the aircrew automation system 100 without the need for physical device configuration or user intervention in resolving resource conflicts. Such a configuration may be referred to as “plug and play.” Thus, a user may readily add or remove system or subsystems (e.g., as modules) to the aircrew automation system 100 via the core platform 102 without requiring substantive modification or integration efforts.

The core platform 102 outputs may be used to provide messages to the HMI system 104. The messages may indicate, for example, checklist progress, contingencies to initiate, warnings to raise, etc. The core platform 102 may also contain a flight data recorder, for instance to provide performance review capability and to provide robustness against in-flight reset. The hardware and various computers may also be ruggedized and share a housing with other devices, such as the perception computer. As discussed below, the core platform 102 may be operatively coupled with a global positioning system (“GPS”)/inertial navigation system (“INS”) system 154 and power management system (e.g., 28 VDC power). The core platform 102 may also contain a flight data recorder, for instance to provide performance review capability and to provide robustness against in-flight reset.

The mission control system 110 generally comprises a mission manager 132, a standard interface 130 (e.g., a STANAG interface), a state awareness manager 158, and other operational components 120 (e.g., hardware and software controllers and/or interfaces), each of which are communicatively coupled to one another via one or more data buses 124. The open architecture of the core platform 102 enables the incorporation of additional data received from systems via the data bus 124. In certain aspects, the mission control system 110 may be coupled with one or more cockpit instruments of the aircraft via the vehicle systems interface to collect flight situation data. In other aspects, the mission control system 110 may collect flight situation data through an aircraft state interface via the aircraft state monitoring system 112, which may collect or generate flight situation data via a direct connection to the aircraft and/or the perception system 106.

As illustrated, the mission control system 110 may be operationally coupled with the secondary actuation system 108 b (e.g., when autonomous operation is desired), the perception system 106, and the HMI system 104, including the human-machine interface 126 (e.g., software and/or hardware that conveys inputs from and displays information to the pilot), and ground station 128. The mission control system 110 may communicate with the flight controllers 118 via the mission manager 132.

The flight controllers 118 may include, for example, an autopilot manager 134 and a vehicle manager 136. The vehicle manager 136 may be generally responsible for navigation and determining the location and state of the aircraft. The vehicle manager 136 may be coupled with a state estimation module 142, which determines the estimated state of the aircraft using information received from the perception system 106 via a perception module 138 and from the GPS/INS system 154 via a navigation module 140.

The autopilot manager 134 may be generally responsible for controlling the aircraft's flight based on, for example, information received from the vehicle manager 136 and the mission control system 110. The autopilot manager 134 controls, inter alia, the flight control system 152, which may be new or preexisting (and comprises a flight controller 150), as well as the aircrew automation actuation module 144 and the aircraft actuation module 146. The aircrew automation actuation module 144 may control the primary actuation system 108 a, while the aircraft actuation module 146 may control the aircraft controls 148 (e.g., various flight surfaces and actuators).

In certain aspects, the flight controller's 118 components may overlap with certain components of the flight control system 116. For example, in certain aspects (e.g., where redundancy is not desired and non-invasive integration is possible), the core platform 102 may exploit certain of the existing aircraft software and/or hardware, thereby obviating the need for additional hardware, such as certain flight controller 118 components and/or a GPS/INS system 154.

Open Architecture.

The core platform 102 serves as the central subsystem, or interface, of the aircrew automation system 100, connecting and controlling the remaining subsystems (e.g., as individual applications) in an open architecture. The remaining subsystems include, for instance, the flight control system 116 (including any flight plan capabilities), the HMI system 104, the actuation systems 108 (e.g., the primary and secondary actuation systems to provide autonomous operation where desired), the perception system 106, knowledge acquisition system 114, and other subsystems 236. Thus, control of the other aircrew automation system 100 hardware may be provided via separate applications specific to a particular piece of hardware, which enables rapid integration of new systems or other external flight plan support technology.

The core platform's 102 architecture enables rapid portability and extensibility when transitioning to a new aircraft or incorporating a new flight plan feature/capability. Thus, an application may be used to enable the aircrew automation system 100 to acquire information specific, or otherwise needed, for that aircraft or to provide the new capability. For example, transition and setup can be handled by individual applications that operate within the core platform 102 or other subsystems, representing aircraft-specific functionalities as well as a growing library of capabilities of aircrew automation system 100, which can be exchanged depending on flight plan, aircraft or crew requirements. In certain aspects, the transition process may be supported by software applications external to the aircrew automation system 100 (such as a procedure editor).

Aircraft Data Structure 208.

The operating system 206 operates as the middleware, interconnecting the operational applications 202, hardware interfaces 204, and other subsystems, such as the knowledge acquisition system 114. The operating system 206 may employ an aircraft data structure 208, which may include a knowledge database 210, a procedure database 212, and a state database 214.

The aircraft data structure 208 facilitates a vehicle-agnostic aircrew automation system 100 by enabling the core platform 102 to develop a complete understanding of an aircraft's systems, their configuration, and the procedures necessary to maintain safe operation, and all other knowledge and expertise a certified pilot of that aircraft would be expected to have. The aircraft data structure 208 may be populated by the knowledge acquisition system 114 (discussed below), which contains necessary information about the aircraft currently being operated (e.g., flight control model, operational procedures, aircraft systems, etc.), data received from internal state sensors, and other subsystems or sensors.

The aircraft data structure 208 can be populated and adjusted to a specific aircraft during a knowledge acquisition phase (e.g., during initial setup) such that it contains all the information necessary to operate the aircraft. For example, when transitioning to a new aircraft, the knowledge acquisition system 114 may perform predefined activities in order to determine the layout (e.g., of the controllers/read outs, such as the cockpit instruments), performance parameters, and other characteristics of the aircraft. The predefined activities may include, for example: (1) generation of an aircraft system model, which informs aircrew automation system 100 about which systems are onboard and how they are configured, actuation limits, etc.; (2) procedure codification, which informs aircrew automation system 100 how to operate aircraft in normal and non-normal situations, further including the codification of checklists; (3) an aerodynamic model, which informs the aircrew automation system 100 how to fly the aircraft and what performance to expect for which aircraft configurations; and (4) information about mission operations.

The core platform 102 can combine this information with data from a set of internal state sensors, which also improve redundancy and system robustness, thereby allowing the aircrew automation system 100 to generate a highly accurate estimate of the aircraft state and system statuses, and to identify deviation from expected behavior. During flight operations, the data structure is dynamically updated with real-time data gathered by, inter alia, the aircrew automation system's 100, perception system 106, the HMI system 104, as well as the aircrew automation systems 100 internal state sensing. Once the aircraft data structure 208 for a given aircraft is populated, the aircraft data structure 208 can then be retained in an aircraft library and used for all other aircraft of the same make and model for which aircrew automation system 100 is available. The aircraft data structure 208 may be further refined as additional data is generated and/or collected by the aircrew automation system 100.

Operational Applications 202.

The core platform 102 may provide the aircrew automation system 100 with a plurality of operational applications 202. Examples of such operational applications 202 might include, without limitation, normal flight operation application 216, an anomaly detection application 218, a contingency operation application 220, an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (“ISR”) application 222 (e.g., ISR orbits), a trend recognition application 238, or other flight plan-specific activity applications 224, such as an aerial refueling application 316.

The normal flight operation application 216 enables aircrew automation system 100 to fly a predetermined flight plan from takeoff to landing, assuming no contingencies. The normal flight operation application 216 is specific to the continuous execution of normal flight activity, as needed by a particular flight phase. The predetermined flight plan may be modified in flight due to unexpected disturbances such as weather, air traffic control commands, air traffic, etc.

The anomaly detection application 218 employs machine learning techniques to monitor aircraft state, cluster, and classify sensor inputs in order to detect the presence of non-normal situations, and to identify whether a contingency has occurred. The anomaly detection application 218 is configured to compare the sensed states against a set of thresholds defined in the operational documentation for the specific aircraft (e.g., maximum parameters, such as never exceed a predetermined airspeed, engine temperature, etc.). The anomaly detection application 218 may also compare the sensed states against additional information available to aircrew automation system 100 and generate alerts or other messages in response to meeting predetermined or dynamically determined thresholds (e.g., warning thresholds, etc.).

In case of a contingency condition, a contingency operation application 220 executes the necessary predetermined checklists, procedures, and actions specified by the contingency operation application 220 in order to maintain safe operation of the aircraft or safely divert the flight. Notably, if a departure from expected performance is observed, the pilot can be alerted to a non-normal condition, thereby mitigating or avoiding potential mistakes. If an aircraft is susceptible to a particular operational error (e.g., pilot induced oscillations), the aircrew automation system 100 can identify and mitigate such events. If an anomaly is detected, the contingency operation application 220 informs and interacts with the pilot via the HMI system 104 and ultimately executes the necessary procedure(s) to respond to the anomaly. Finally, the ISR application 222 and other flight plan-specific activity applications 224 may provide instructions, algorithms, or information to carry out operations relevant to a mission.

The trend recognition application 238 provides trend analysis developed using machine learning based on, for example, the knowledge acquisition system 114. In certain aspects, the trend recognition application 238 may supply data, or otherwise trigger, the anomaly detection application 218. For example, if the trend recognition application 238 detects an undesirable trend, the trend may be flagged as an anomaly and reported to the anomaly detection application 218.

Hardware Interfaces 204.

The various information pertaining to the operational applications 202 are communicated between the primary actuation system 108 a, secondary actuation system 108 b, perception system 106, aircraft state monitoring system 112, HMI system 104, and other subsystems 236 via, for example, the primary actuation interface 226, secondary actuation interface 228, aircraft state interface 230, HMI interface 232, and other interface 234.

Human/Machine Interface (HMI) System 104.

The HMI system 104 provides a control and communication interface for the pilot (e.g., a human pilot, whether on-board or remote). The HMI system 104 is configurable to operate as a flight plan manager that enables the pilot to direct the aircrew automation system 100. The HMI system 104 can combine elements of glass cockpits, unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) ground stations, and electronic flight bags (EFB) to enable effective, efficient and latency-tolerant communication between the pilot and aircrew automation system 100. Generally speaking, an EFB is an electronic information management device that allows flight crews to perform a variety of functions that were traditionally accomplished by using paper references. The HMI system 104 may include a human-machine interface 126, which may be based on a touch screen graphical user interface (“GUI”) and/or speech-recognition systems. The human-machine interface 126 may employ, for example, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, or combination thereof. The human-machine interface 126 can be secured near the pilot (e.g., on the yoke—as checklists often are, or on a knee-strap) depending on pilot preferences. The human-machine interface 126 may be removable coupled to the cockpit or, in certain aspect, employ an integrated display within the cockpit (e.g., an existing display).

FIG. 3a illustrates an example human-machine interface 126 having a single-screen touch interface and speech-recognition system. The HMI system 104 serves as a primary channel of communication between the pilot and the aircrew automation system 100, enabling the pilot to command tasks to and receive feedback or instructions from the aircrew automation system 100, to change the allocation of tasks between pilot and aircrew automation system 100, and to select which operational applications 202 are currently enabled for the aircrew automation system 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 1b , for example, the HMI system 104 may receive status information from a subsystem via the core platform 102, while sending to the core platform 102 mode commands generated by the HMI system 104 or input by the pilot. The pilot may be remote (e.g., on the ground or in another aircraft) or on-board (i.e., in the aircraft). Thus, in certain aspects, the HMI system 104 may be remotely facilitated over a network via communication system 122.

Human-Machine Interface 126.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b , the human-machine interface 126 may employ a tablet based GUI and a speech-recognition interface that enables vocal communications. An objective of the human-machine interface 126 is to enable the pilot to interact with the core platform 102's knowledge base in manner akin to the way a pilot interacts with a human flight engineer or copilot.

The human-machine interface 126 can display the current state of aircrew automation system 100 (its current settings and responsibilities) as well as which operational applications 202 are currently installed, which operational applications are running and, if they are active, which actions the operational applications 202 are taking. The human-machine interface 126's GUI display may also be night-vision goggles compatible such that it is visible regardless of the pilot's eyewear. The speech-recognition system may be used to replicate the same types of verbal communications used by human flight crew when running through checklists and communicating on the flight deck. In certain aspects, the speech recognition may be limited to the same standards of codified communications used by pilot teams to minimize the chances of the system failing to recognize commands or changing into inappropriate modes of operations. The speech-recognition system may be configured to learn/recognize the speech of a given pilot through a voice training protocol. For example, the pilot may speak a predetermined script such that the speech-recognition system can become trained with the pilot's dialect.

The human-machine interface 126 may provide the status and/or details of various operations, including the entire aircrew automation system 100 via the aircrew automation status application 302, the perception system 106 via the perception status application 304, the autopilot via the autopilot status application 306 (where applicable), the GPS/INS system 154 via the GPS status application 308, and any other application or system status information 310. The display of the human-machine interface 126 may be customized by the pilot. For example, the pilot may wish to add, reorganize, or remove certain of the display icons and/or operational applications 202, which may be accomplished through a select and drag maneuver or through the aircrew automation settings application 312. The human-machine interface 126 may further inform the pilot regarding the aircraft's operating status and to provide the pilot with instructions or advice.

As illustrated, the human-machine interface 126 may provide a tool bar with various selectable tabs, such as a route tab 328, a procedures tab 330, a calibration tab 332, and an applications tab 334. When the pilot selects the applications tab 334, for example, the human-machine interface 126 may display the various operational applications 202 installed on the aircrew automation system 100 (e.g., the core platform 102), including, for example, a normal flight operation application 216, a contingency operation application 220, an aircrew automation settings application 312, gauge application 314, and aerial refueling application 316.

Selecting the aircrew automation settings application 312 enables the pilot to change, reallocate, or otherwise edit the settings of the aircrew automation system 100 and/or to install operational applications 202. Selecting the gauge application 314 may cause the human-machine interface 126 to display the various operational conditions of the aircraft, including, for example, position, direction, speed, altitude, pitch, yaw, etc. The various operational conditions of the aircraft, which may be gathered from the perception system 106 or another sensor, may be displayed as alphanumeric characters or as graphical dials (e.g., in accordance with the pilot's preference settings). Finally, selecting the aerial refueling application 316 icon may cause the aircrew automation system 100 to perform a predetermined protocol for facilitating or coordinating a mid-air refueling operation. For example, upon selecting the aerial refueling application 316, the aircrew automation system may coordinate with another aircraft to facilitate refueling and perform the necessary checklists for doing the same (e.g., ensuring aircraft position, airspeed, fuel hatch opening, etc.). Additional mission applications may be included that enable performance of mission operations by the aircrew automation system.

When the pilot selects the route tab 328, the human-machine interface 126 may display an area map 326 with an icon 322 representing the current location of the aircraft along a flight path relative to its various waypoints 320. Selecting (e.g., tapping, clicking, etc.) the icon 322 may cause a dialog window 324 to display that provides the various operational conditions of the aircraft. The area map 326 may be saved, exported, rotated, or panned using a map control window 318. The area map 326 may be saved or exported (e.g., via communication system 122) as a static image or a data set (or database). When the pilot selects the calibration tab 332, the human-machine interface 126 may display the calibration of the aircraft, whereby the pilot may be further enabled to revise the same.

The HMI system 104 may provide an intuitive display and interface that includes checklist verification and health alerts from the core platform 102 and predictions of aircraft state (e.g., fuel consumption and predicted remaining range), as well as failure prognosis and deviation alerts (e.g., “Left engine EGT is 5 degrees above normal and rising”). Thus, when the pilot selects the procedures tab 330, as illustrated in FIG. 3b , the pilot may review and monitor checklist items, as well as review any health alerts. Indeed, a function of the HMI system 104 is to facilitate checklist monitoring and/or execution, marking items as complete when the when the perception system 106 perceives their completion and providing warnings to the pilot when items are not completed, as based on information previously imported from, for example, a Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). The aircrew automation system 100 also monitors system health, comparing the current system state to that expected based on the POH and other knowledge sources, and guides appropriate responses to contingencies. In certain aspects, either the pilot or the core platform 102 can acknowledge checklist actions as they are performed and the HMI system 104 automatically proceeds to the correct checklist as appropriate. The HMI system 104 may give visual and auditory alerts to direct the pilot's attention to unattended checklist items, instruments that are displaying out-of-normal range values, or predicted events as the aircraft proceeds through the flight plan, which can be entered as a series of waypoints (for instance). For example, as illustrated, a list of tasks may be provided alongside indicators that indicate whether the task has been completed, is being completed, or needs to be completed (e.g., a “check mark” icon to include complete, an “in progress” icon, and a “to be completed” icon). Similarly, a list of health hazards may be provide, along with one or corresponding icons to indicated one or more operational conditions that are out of range. For example, a low fuel indicator may be provided alongside a low fuel icon if fuel is low.

Task Allocation.

The HMI system 104 can enable the pilot to limit the activities executed by the aircrew automation system 100, if any. The HMI system 104 may define the allocation of tasks between the pilot and aircrew automation system 100, their responsibilities, and the communication of information between the two, thereby functioning as a collaborative teammate of the pilot. Thus, the aircrew automation system 100 may operate, depending on configuration, in a purely advisory role (i.e., without any control over the aircraft), a fully autonomous role (i.e., controlling the flight control without pilot intervention), or an advisory role with the ability to control flight controllers. The HMI system 104 may be further designed to enable a pilot to go through a transitional phase, where the pilot specifies the aspects of flight operation for which the aircrew automation system 100 is responsible. For example, the HMI system 104 may display a list of tasks where the pilot may select whether the aircrew automation system 100 or the pilot is responsible for a given task on the list. The list of tasks may be provided to the HMI system 104 from a procedure editor, which is described below. Once the aircraft data structure 208 has been populated and refined such that the pilot better trusts the aircrew automation system 100, the pilot may allow aircrew automation system 100 to perform additional actions, transitioning the pilot from a primary mode to a supervisory mode (i.e., a fully autonomous role). In this supervisory mode, pilot interactions may be at a high, goal-based level, with the HMI system 104 supporting those tasks as well as allowing the operator insight at other levels for troubleshooting. As noted above, in certain aspects, all tasks may be performed by the pilot, leaving the aircrew automation system 100 to serve an advisory role.

Mode Awareness.

A risk when employing any automation system is the potential for mode confusion on the part of the pilot (e.g., where the pilot neglects a task believing that the automation system will handle the task). The HMI system 104 avoids such mode confusion by first generating the correct function and the above-described task allocation between the aircrew automation system 100 and the pilot. Indeed, the HMI system 104 allows the pilot to directly command and configure aircrew automation system 100 via the human-machine interface 126 and displays the information necessary for the pilot to understand what actions the aircrew automation system 100 is taking to ensure mode awareness. In other words, mode awareness generally refers to a state where the mode of the system matches the operational mode expected by the operator. The human-machine interface 126 may display the information necessary to ensure that the pilot is always aware of the mode in which aircrew automation system 100 is operating. Additionally, the HMI system 104 serves as the human interface for individual mission applications (e.g., operational applications 202).

Aircraft State Monitoring System 112.

The aircraft state monitoring system 112 collects, determines, or otherwise perceives the real-time aircraft state. As noted above, the aircraft state monitoring system 112 may perceive the real-time aircraft state through, inter alia, a direct connection (e.g., integral with or otherwise hardwired to the aircraft) to the aircraft, or via perception system 106. When a perception system 106 is used, the aircraft state monitoring system 112 may include a dedicated controller (e.g., processor) or share the perception controller 402 of the perception system 106. The perception system 106, for example, may employ a combination of a vision system, an acoustic system, and identification algorithms to read or comprehend flight situation information displayed by cockpit instruments. Example cockpit instruments include, for example, an altimeter, an airspeed indicator, a vertical speed indicator, one or more compass systems (e.g., a magnetic compass), one or more gyroscopic systems (e.g., attitude indicator, heading indicator, turn indicator), one or more flight director systems, one or more navigational systems (e.g., very-high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR), non-directional radio beacon (NDB)), etc. The perception system 106 may include a processor and one or more optical sensors (e.g., three or more lightweight machine vision cameras) trained on the instrument panel to maximize pixel density, glare robustness, and redundancy. The one or more optical sensors may wiredly connect to the perception computer via, for example, Ethernet. The one or more optical sensors should be installed with a line of sight with the instrument panel, but so as to be not obstructive to the pilot.

The flight situation data perceived by the perception system 106 may be encoded and provided to the core platform 102 in real-time. The open architecture of the core platform 102 enables the incorporation of additional data received via a data bus 124 to augment the flight situation data generated by the perception system 106. As illustrated in FIG. 1b , for example, the aircraft state monitoring system 112 and/or the perception system 106 may receive commands and configuration data from the core platform 102, while sending to the core platform 102 status and flight situation information (e.g., flight situation data) gathered by the perception system 106 or otherwise collected by the aircraft state monitoring system 112.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example perception system 106 operatively coupled with, inter alia, the core platform 102 (which is coupled to other subsystems, such as flight control system 116), the GPS/INS system 154, and any other input systems 412. The perception system 106 visually and/or acoustically monitors, inter alia, the cockpit instruments to generate flight situation data that can be used to derive the aircraft state from cockpit layouts, which may range from basic analog aircraft instruments to highly integrated, glass cockpit avionics suites. In addition to deriving physical state such as airspeed and altitude, the perception system 106 may also monitor instruments that are specific to aircraft systems such as fuel gauges and radios and provide secondary feedback about the status and positioning of the actuation system 108.

As illustrated, the perception system 106 may comprise a perception controller 402 that is operatively coupled with a database 404 and a plurality of sensors, such as cameras 410 (used for the vision system), microphone 408 (used for the acoustic system), and/or other sensors 406 (e.g., temperature sensors, positional sensors, inertial sensors, etc.). The perception controller 402 may be, for example, a processor configured to feed flight situation data to (or otherwise instruct) the core platform 102 based upon information received and manipulated information received from the plurality of sensors, the database 404, and external components, such as the GPS/INS system 154 and other input systems 412.

Vision System.

The perception system 106 may employ a monocular or stereovision system, possibly including motion capture markers, to continuously monitor the state of the aircraft by reading what is displayed on the cockpit instruments. In certain aspects, by comparing information about a scene from two vantage points, 3D information can be extracted by examining the relative positions of objects in the two panels. The vision system may be used to accurately monitor instruments (e.g., glass gauges, physical steam gauges, etc.) and switches, as well as their positions in a variety of lighting conditions and cockpit layouts and sizes. Using a stereovision system and/or markers also provides sensing to prevent collisions between any robotic components and the pilot.

The vision system may employ a suite of high-definition, stereo cameras and/or a LIDAR laser scanner. The system may be capable of recognizing data from all flight instruments and derive the state of switches knobs and gauges that display the state of aircraft specific systems (e.g., remaining fuel). It may also be capable of recognizing the state of the panel with enough resolution to detect minor changes that result from pilot actions. Machine vision algorithms on the perception system 106 computer ‘read’ the instruments (gauges, lights, wind correction angle panel, individual elements of the primary flight display or multi-function display in a glass cockpit) and mechanical items such as throttle levers, trim settings, switches, and breakers to provide a real-time cockpit state update to the core platform 102.

The perception system 106 may be capable of deriving the aircraft state from cockpit layouts ranging from basic analog aircraft instruments to highly integrated, “glass cockpit” avionics suites. Through the vision system, the requirement for a data feed from the aircraft is obviated, which permits/increases portability across aircraft. However, when possible, the aircrew automation system 100 may also be coupled to an aircraft's data feed (e.g., through a data port). Further, using the application approach described for the core platform 102, different cockpit layouts can be addressed and understood using different underlying operational applications 202. For example, the aircrew automation system 100 may employ the gauge application 314 to derive the values displayed on the instruments, whether graphical dial (e.g., analog “steam” gauges or digital representations thereof) or a glass cockpit. This approach would also enable the aircrew automation system 100 to run operational applications that monitor, inter alia, weather radars, traffic displays, and terrain maps displayed in the cockpit.

In order to make aircrew automation system 100 portable, the process of rapidly learning a new cockpit layout and codifying subtle differences in location and scaling or unit of instruments is addressed by the perception system 106 design. For example, during the initial knowledge acquisition phase, the location and scale of instruments and switches can be encoded and verified for a particular aircraft, reducing the real-time task to the extraction of the position of the graphical dial (round dial) or number (glass cockpit), whether graphical dial gauges, CRT display, LCD, etc. The piece-wise planar structure of cockpit instrumentation enables the perception system 106 to construe the images (e.g., using Homography methods) and register it against the pre-mapped data generated during the initial knowledge acquisition phase. Accordingly, live imagery can be registered and compared against the previously annotated model, thereby greatly simplifying interpretation of the data.

Actuation System 108.

When desired, an actuation system 108 executes the actions commanded via the core platform 102 to guide the flight and overall operation of the aircraft. The aircrew automation system's 100 actuation system 108 executes the actions commanded by the core platform 102 to guide the flight and overall operation of the aircraft without interfering with the activities performed by the pilot. As illustrated in FIG. 1b , for example, the actuation system 108 may receive actuation commands and configuration data from the core platform 102, while sending to the core platform 102 status and response information generated by the actuation system 108.

Manned aircraft cockpits are designed for the human reach envelope and, therefore, all cockpit controls are reachable by a comparably sized robotic/mechanical manipulator. A manipulator capable of actuating every single switch, knob, lever and button on every single possible cockpit in high-G and vibration environments with the rapid execution required for emergency operation, however, would be expensive, heavy, and more invasive than what is desired for the aircrew automation system 100.

To more effectively achieve portability across aircraft, the aircrew automation system 100 may separate the actuation of primary flight controls (stick/yoke, stick, side-stick or collective, rudder pedals, brakes, and throttles) from the actuation of secondary flight controls (e.g., switches, knobs, rockers, fuses, etc.). This approach reduces the likelihood of designing a single point solution that becomes obsolete as aircraft evolve. Thus, the aircrew automation system 100 may employ a primary actuation system 108 a and a secondary actuation system 108 b to physically control the actuators in the cockpit. More specifically, the primary actuation system 108 a may actuate the primary flight controls, while the secondary actuation system 108 b may actuate the secondary flight controls, without obscuring the use of those controls by the pilot. The primary actuation system 108 a and the secondary actuation system 108 b are configured to collectively actuate all standard controls present on today's flight decks during flight operations.

As discussed below, the primary actuation system 108 a focuses on actuating the primary flight controls (stick/yoke, stick, side-stick or collective, rudder pedals, brakes, and throttles), while the secondary actuation system 108 b focuses on actuating the controls that are not as easily accessed by the primary actuation system 108 a, such as secondary flight controls (e.g., switches, knobs, rockers, fuses, etc.).

Primary Actuation System 108 a.

The primary actuation system 108 a focuses on the set of controls necessary to safely operate the aircraft. As shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b , primary actuation system 108 a include a frame 516 having an articulating arm 502 (e.g., a robotic appendage or “arm”) and stick/yoke actuator 510 that actuates the primary flight controls (yoke, stick, side-stick or collective, rudder pedals, brakes, and throttles) and other, easy to reach controls. The actuators may be one or more of linear (straight line), rotary (circular), or oscillatory actuators, which may be driven through one or more of electrical, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic techniques.

The frame 516 may be sized and shaped to fit within the seat of a standard aircraft. To that end, the frame's 516 footprint should be about the same size as, or smaller than, an average human's “seated” footprint. The actuation system 108 may be fabricated using lightweight metals, metal alloys, and/or composite materials.

Stick/Yoke Actuator 510.

The stick/yoke actuator 510 may couple to and engage the aircraft's existing stick/yoke 514 using a stick/yoke gripper 512. The stick/yoke gripper 512 may be sized and shaped such that it is universal and can engage various forms of stick/yokes and/or control wheels. The stick/yoke actuator 510 may be configured to move the stick/yoke 514 forward, backward, left, right, and positions therebetween. The stick/yoke gripper 512 may further comprise one or more actuators for actuating buttons and/or switches positioned on the stick/yoke 514.

Articulating Arm 502.

The actuator-controlled articulating arm 502 may be sized, shaped, and configured to occupy the space typically occupied by a co-pilot's arms, thereby ensuring portability across aircraft. To enable movement in multiple degrees of freedom (“DOF”) movement, the articulating arm 502 may comprise a plurality of arm segments (whether linear, curved, or angled) joined using a plurality of hinged or pivotal joints 506. The articulating arm 502 may comprise a gripper 504 at its distal end. The gripper 504 may be coupled to the articulating arm 502 via a multiple-DOF connection. The base of the articulating arm 502 may be rotatable and slideably coupled to the frame 516 via a movable base 508. For example, the articulating arm 502 may be coupled with an upper base 508 a, which is slideably coupled with a lower base 508 b, which may be secured to the frame 516. The articulating arm 502 and/or frame 516 can be grounded to the aircraft electrically via a grounding lead 518 (e.g., cable). The upper base 508 a may slide relative to the lower base 508 b using, for example, a combination of rails and ball bearings. In certain aspects, the upper base 508 a may slide relative to the lower base 508 b along both the X- and Y-axis.

The articulating arm 502 can be equipped with an encoder (e.g., twin 18-bit encoders) for each of its degrees of freedom to ensure exact positioning of the articulating arm 502. Internal clutches may be provided at each hinged or pivotal joint 506 such that the articulating arm 502 can be overpowered by the pilot if so desired, without damaging the articulating arm 502. In such a case, the aircrew automation system 100 may determine the position or location of the articulating arm 502 using the encoders.

The gripper 504 may be configured to couple, or otherwise engage, for example, throttle levers, etc. The gripper 504 may also provide force and pressure detection so as to allow the aircrew automation system 100 to estimate how a flight controls actuator is grasped and to adjust the motion to properly throw it. Once the motion is executed, the same feedback may be used to determine if the desired switch configuration has been achieved. In certain aspects, the articulating arm 502 may be fitted with an electronic device (e.g., a homing device) that enables it to find and hit a target.

Secondary Actuation System 108 b.

Unlike the primary flight controls, which are generally located in the same vicinity across aircraft makes and types, the location of the secondary flight controls (e.g., avionics, switches, knobs, rockers, toggles, covered switches, fuses, etc.) is not as consistent or spatially contained from aircraft to aircraft.

The secondary actuation system 108 b focuses on actuating the controls that are not as easily accessed by the primary actuation system 108 a. For example, some switches may even be on an overhead panel directly above the captain's head, making it potentially difficult to manipulate them with a robotic arm (especially in turbulent flight conditions). Accordingly, some actuators may be allocated to the above-described primary actuation system 108 a, while others may be allocated to a self-contained, secondary actuation system 108 b.

The secondary actuation system 108 b may be provided in the form of an adaptable XY-plotter or gantry system mounted directly to the panel of interest and calibrated to the specific panel it is operating. The secondary actuation system 108 b is preferably universal and resizable. An example XY-plotter is illustrated in FIG. 5c . The XY-plotter may comprise a square frame that serves as the rails 520 of the plotter, a rotatable multi-tool 528 with multiple interfaces (e.g., switch actuator 532 and knob actuator 530) capable of manipulating the controls of interest, and a control system that moves this multi-tool 528 via a multi-tool carriage 526 within the frame along a Y-axis set of rails 522 and an X-axis set of rails 524.

When in use, the plotter moves the multi-tool 528 to the location, selects the correct manipulator interface, and manipulates the secondary flight control of interest. For example, the multi-tool 528 that can flip binary switches and/or covered switches using a switch actuator 532 and can twist knobs using a knob actuator 530. The switch actuator 532 and/or knob actuator 530 may be coupled to the multi-tool 528 via an articulating or rotating member, such as the rotatable switch arm 534.

When not in use, the multi-tool carriage 526 may return to a home position (e.g., automatically navigate to a far corner) to prevent obstruction of the panel. The multi-tool 528 and/or multi-tool carriage 526 would be equipped with sensors (e.g., proximity sensors) such that it can move out of the way when it detects the pilot's hands. During the initial set-up of the plotter on a new aircraft, the location, type, and position of the secondary flight control panel may be encoded. Once a particular secondary flight control panel is encoded, the configuration can be saved to the aircraft data structure 208 and loaded when aircrew automation system 100 is installed in the same aircraft, or the same type of aircraft. In certain aspects, additional actuators may be provided to actuate controllers that are positioned in, for example, the foot well of the cockpit, such as foot pedals (e.g., brake and/or rudder pedals).

Knowledge Acquisition System 114.

The knowledge acquisition system 114 gathers and/or generates a knowledge base necessary to enable the aircrew automation system 100 to determine aircraft specific information. This includes knowledge of aircraft performance characteristics, limitations, checklists, and procedures (including emergency procedures), and criteria that define contingencies in the aircraft. The data may be derived from a combination of encoded data (e.g., from manuals, pilot briefings, pilot operating handbook) and data acquired in flight (e.g., via sensors), which supports off-line machine-learning and trend analysis. The date to be encoded may be loaded in .xml format that describes the contents of procedures and the flow of tasks both within and between procedures.

As illustrated in FIG. 1b , for example, the knowledge acquisition system 114 may receive operational commands from the core platform 102, while sending to the core platform 102 configuration data and status and response information generated by the knowledge acquisition system 114.

The operation of the knowledge acquisition system 114 may be generally divided into three processes, including, for example, aircraft system modeling, procedure codification, and aerodynamic modeling. The aircraft system modeling process provides the aircrew automation system 100 with information about the available onboard systems and how the onboard systems are configured, actuation limits, etc. The procedure codification process provides the aircrew automation system 100 with information about aircraft operation in normal and non-normal situations. Procedure codification may include, for example, the codification of checklists. Finally, aerodynamic modeling process provides the aircrew automation system 100 with information about flying the aircraft and what performance to expect for a given aircraft type and configuration.

During the knowledge acquisition phase, the conditions under which a situation is considered an anomaly or contingency must also be established. These conditions will frequently be discrete, such as an engine over-speed or the exceedance of an airspeed limit. Using machine learning, the aircrew automation system 100 can fine-tune its aerodynamic and control models by observing a series of in-flight maneuvers flown by the pilot. This information includes flight dynamics data, operational limitations, procedures, aircraft systems, and layouts as well as other related data. In addition to written information, the aircrew automation system 100 may also codify information based on past events and experience of more experienced pilots. Machine learning enables the knowledge acquisition process to be performed efficiently and quickly.

Using aircrew automation system's 100 perception system 106 and actuation system 108, the instruments and controls in a plane cockpit or a realistic simulator are monitored as a pilot goes through the motions of a typical flight profile. Observing the pilot's actions allows the aircrew automation system 100 to learn directly from the pilot and imitate the smooth, expert control for a given operation. This process benefits from the fact that flight operations are highly structured in what is to be done in a given situation—machine learning then enables the codification of how something is to be executed.

The population of aircraft data structure 208 may be accomplished using the Extensible Markup Language (“XML”). More specifically, a XML data structure may be employed that comprises a set of fields and data trees that, when populated, allow the core platform 102 to configure and operate an aircraft. In certain aspects, the aircrew automation system 100 may employ natural language interpretation of flight documents and/or a software tool that enables a human to enter the data efficiently and accurately.

In certain aspects, a set of airplane agnostic features may be generated and coded. For example, procedures like landing gear retraction, engine out procedures on multi-engine aircraft, and stall recovery are similar across many types of aircraft and will need only minimal modification for a particular airframe. Moreover, basic airframe limitations (such as never exceed speeds) need only be entered as specific numbers and can be entered from flight manuals in a nominal period of time.

Procedure Editor.

The aircraft specific information may be gathered during a transition period using, for instance, written documentation (e.g., pilot operating handbook, maintenance manual, etc.) as well as through direct monitoring of aircraft operations. The output of this knowledge acquisition process is the aircraft data structure 208, which is described above with regard to the core platform 102. Contained in this aircraft data structure 208 may be operational procedures, available systems and their designs, cockpit layout, and all other information necessary for safe operation of the aircraft. In certain aspects, an aircrew automation software development kit may allow a software/flight controls engineer to specify, code, and unit-test one aircraft subsystem (e.g., electrical or hydraulic) per day. The aircrew automation software development kit can provide tools for turning the flight manual's procedures into state machines compatible with Matlab State Flow™ and Simulink™ programs, which can then auto-code the procedures in C for inclusion in the core platform 102. The aircrew automation software development kit may also generate test code for the unit-level as well as interfaces for testing to the core platform 102. For example, the procedure editor may provide a list of tasks where the pilot may select whether the aircrew automation system 100 or the pilot is responsible for a given task on the list.

Knowledge Acquisition of Flight Control.

A first step in knowledge acquisition of flight control uses the Athena Vortex Lattice (“AVL”) method to generate the mathematical model in the form of non-dimensional stability derivatives that is used and refined during the flight with the pilot. Once the primary flight control mechanisms are calibrated, the system ID trainer application may be used to perform a sequence of flight maneuvers designed to identify specific stability derivatives. The data is automatically processed into updated stability derivatives for use in the controller. The controller may employ an auto-tuner. The same updated stability derivatives are used in a 6-DOF simulation as a validation step that the controllers perform adequately prior to flight. An additional benefit of performing knowledge acquisition of flight control is that it enables the refinement and incorporation of a great deal of formal procedural knowledge. Although the procedures lay out the individual steps, fine detail on how such steps are to be executed may be missing (e.g., how long to wait between steps or how sharply to increase throttle).

Reverse Engineer of Aircraft Flight Performance Characteristics.

Aircraft performance characteristics that can be measured through on-board data-acquisition units are generally considered proprietary by the aircraft and avionic manufacturers. This information can be utilized for flight simulations, aircraft health monitoring, aircraft development, and much more. Currently, third parties wanting to utilize the on-board data acquisition are restricted by its proprietary nature. This restriction has only been partially been overcome through the use of standalone aircraft sensor suites. These commercially available sensor suites only measure a fraction of the data available through cockpit instrumentation and pilot inputs. However, because the aircrew automation system 100 utilizes a variety of sensors to determine the aircraft flight performance characteristics, it effectively reverse engineers the air vehicle performance characteristics. The aircrew automation system 100 collects aircraft information through a combination of stand-alone sensors, data capture through images of cockpit instrument, and input controls.

EXAMPLE

Aspects of the present disclosure may be illustrated through the following example flight plan, which illustrates how aircrew automation system 100 may interact with the pilot, execute a flight plan, execute flight operational tasks, and respond to contingencies during system engagement and takeoff, flight plan engagement, and anomaly detection & handling. The present teachings, however, should not be limited to those used in this example.

System Engagement and Takeoff.

The pilot gets into the left seat of an aircraft, fastens the seat belt, positions the human-machine interface 126 comfortably at his side, and activates the aircrew automation system 100 application. The application boots and runs through a series of power-on diagnostics and the mechanical interfaces power up and calibrate. A message may be displayed upon the human-machine interface 126 confirming a successful test and queries the pilot to confirm engagement of aircrew automation system 100. The pilot selects the day's flight plan via the applications tab 334. The aircrew automation system 100 may be used for checklist monitoring. The pilot selects engine start, and aircrew automation system 100 may begin a sequence of engine start actions, asking for final confirmation before actually starting. Meanwhile, the pilot may call the tower for clearance and receives a flight plan to the training area.

When engine start is complete, the aircrew automation system 100 may report success to the pilot and report, for example, “ready to taxi,” (either audibly or via the human-machine interface 126). The pilot calls for a taxi clearance and upon hearing it, the aircrew automation system 100 transcribes the taxi clearance and displays it to the pilot for confirmation. The pilot then hits the “taxi via clearance” button on the application and aircrew automation system 100 taxis to the assigned runway while the pilot monitors for traffic. When at the runway threshold, the pilot verbally commands the aircrew automation system 100 to perform a pre-takeoff check and the system completes all necessary checks, prompting the pilot to manually double-check critical items, such as flight controls. For example, the aircrew automation system 100 may monitor the human operator's execution of a checklist, and output “checklist complete” or identify a flight plan or error.

Upon receiving further clearance, the pilot then commands the aircrew automation system 100 to guide the aircraft to line-up and wait, and then ultimately takeoff. The aircrew automation system 100 pushes the throttles forward via the primary actuation system 108 a, visually checks engine and cockpit indicators via the perception system 106, calls out speeds via the HMI system 104, and rotates at the speed appropriate to the current weight, balance, and density altitude. The pilot keeps his hand on the stick/yoke 514 to confirm aircrew automation system's 100 inputs and retain his muscle memory. The aircrew automation system 100 confirms aircraft performance according to current conditions and reports any deviation from expected climb rate. The pilot's workload is reduced by the aircrew automation system 100 during climb, enabling more heads-up time (i.e., eyes forward, not on the instruments) to look for traffic in the busy airspace. The aircrew automation system 100 may also provide experienced pilot advice for a given checklist, aircraft, or location. For example, in a particular airport, the aircrew automation system 100 may instruct the human operator with airport specific tips, such as “steep departure angle from this runway.”

Flight Plan Engagement.

At the top of climb, the aircrew automation system 100 levels off the aircraft and adjusts trim and power settings while heading to the first waypoint in the flight plan. During cruise, the aircrew automation system 100 continues to visually monitor all cockpit displays, constantly comparing engine and aircraft performance against expected values and alerting the pilot to any deviations.

The aircraft arrives at the training area and begins the day's flight plan. During the flight plan, however, the aircraft enters a towering cumulus cloud, where instrument meteorological conditions (“IMC”) conditions are at below freezing temperatures. The pilot requests and receives clearance from the ground, via an internet relay chat (“IRC”) chat window on the human-machine interface 126, to climb to 24,000 feet to get above the weather. In certain aspects, the aircrew automation system 100 request clearance from the ground.

Anomaly Detection & Handling.

After a period of time, the aircrew automation system 100 may detect that given the climb, the indicated airspeed is slowly deviating from its modeled airspeed for these pitch and power settings, indicating lower than expected values. This is an indication that the pitot heater has failed and the pitot tubes have iced up. The pilot has fewer than 100 hours flying the aircraft and is not aware that pitot heaters in this model are known to be unreliable. The pilot has not yet noticed that the airspeed indicator is trending below nominal.

The aircrew automation system 100, however, recognizes that the airspeed data is anomalous to the rest of the flight data and its internal flight dynamics model, and aurally warns the pilot “airspeed indicator fault.” While the pilot recognizes that the airspeed information is currently unreliable, he is unsure as to whether the aircraft is flying faster or slower than the indicator shows.

Drawing on a database of prior anomalies, the aircrew automation system 100 presents a set of procedural options and highlights the minimum safe altitude for the area (e.g., 8,000 ft). The pilot chooses the most conservative option, which results in wings level, pitch, and power descent to a lower altitude (e.g., 10,000 ft). The aircrew automation system 100 eases back on the power, pitches slightly down, and commences the descent. While descending through 15,000 feet the pitot tubes again come online. Once stable at 10,000 feet, the aircrew automation system 100 holds the aircraft straight and level while the pilot assesses the situation prior to returning to the flight plan.

Upon competition of the day's flight plan, the aircrew automation system 100 may execute an automatic landing procedure. For example, the aircrew automation system 100 may navigate the aircraft to a predetermined waypoint, where the aircraft may commence its initial descent. During the descent, the aircrew automation system 100 may monitor the flight conditions and locate the runway. Upon final approach, the aircrew automation system 100 may slow the aircraft down and ultimately land the aircraft. If the aircrew automation system 100 determines that landing is not feasible (e.g., an obstruction or unacceptable flight conditions), the aircrew automation system 100 may commence a missed approach routine or other contingency routine. For example, the aircrew automation system 100 may retry landing at the same location or navigate the aircraft to an alternative landing location. An example system for landing an aircraft at an alternative landing location is disclosed by commonly owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0323932, titled “Autonomous Cargo Delivery System.”

The aircrew automation system 100 and derivative technologies may be applied across a wide range of aircraft and flight simulators. The derived flight performance characteristics from an aircraft flight test can be used to improve the fidelity of flight simulators used to train pilots. Providing flight simulators access to actual aircraft performance data has tremendous value for flight simulator operators. Another benefit of aircrew automation system 100 is its ability to synthesize flight performance characteristics when aircraft are modified for special flight plans such as the addition of sensors and antennas that can affect aerodynamic performance and flight handling qualities (e.g., aircraft development). In addition, the data captured by the aircrew automation system 100 can be used for aircraft health monitoring, using prognostics to sense maintenance needs.

The aircrew automation system 100 furthers the safety and utility of commercial aviation operations while providing significant savings in human operating costs. For example, the aircrew automation system 100 may be applied to long-haul air cargo carriers to increase safety and efficiency as well the cost-savings of this advanced pilot-assist technology. Further, the ultimate state machine, for example, may serve as a training tool for pilots in-flight, or as a safety system, providing a second set of eyes in what would traditionally be a single-pilot aircraft. Portions of the human-machine interface 126 streamline all piloted flight operations, even multi-crew operations.

The above-cited patents and patent publications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although various embodiments have been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features, and like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other embodiments, modifications, and variations may be ascertainable to those of skill in the art. Thus, it is to be understood that the claimed invention may therefore be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating an aircraft using an aircrew automation system having one or more processors and an optical perception system, the method comprising: imaging, via the optical perception system, cockpit instruments of the aircraft to yield, in real-time, image data representing the cockpit instruments; generating, via the one or more processors, real-time flight situation data based on the image data; generating, via the one or more processors, one or more flight commands based at least in part on the real-time flight situation data; communicating the one or more flight commands to a flight control system of the aircraft to control at least one flight control of the aircraft; and displaying, via a display device operatively coupled with the one or more processors, a status of the aircraft and of the aircrew automation system.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying, via the display device, at least one of a checklist, a health alert, a predicted aircraft state, and a failure prognosis.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving, via a touch screen of a human-machine interface, one or more pilot commands from a human pilot to control the aircrew automation system.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time flight situation data includes airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed of the aircraft.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, via the one or more processors, aircraft-specific information for the aircraft during a knowledge acquisition phase, wherein the aircraft-specific information includes a layout of cockpit instruments for the aircraft.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of, during the knowledge acquisition phase, receiving a flight plan from a flight control system of the aircraft, wherein the one or more flight commands are generated based at least in part on the flight plan and the real-time flight situation data.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the aircraft-specific information further comprises one or more thresholds defined for the aircraft.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more thresholds is a maximum airspeed or maximum engine temperature.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving flight data directly from the cockpit instruments via a data link, wherein the real-time flight situation data is based at least in part on the flight data.
 10. An aircrew automation system for use in an aircraft, the aircrew automation system comprising: one or more processors to operatively connect a plurality of systems or subsystems via one or more interfaces; a perception system operatively coupled with the one or more processors to monitor, in real-time, one or more cockpit instruments of the aircraft visually to generate real-time flight situation data, wherein the one or more processors are configured to generate one or more flight commands based at least in part on the real-time flight situation data, and wherein at least one of the one or more processors is configured to control at least one flight control of the aircraft using the one or more flight commands; and a human-machine interface operatively coupled with the one or more processors to provide an interface between a human pilot and the aircrew automation system, wherein the human-machine interface comprises a display device to display a status of the aircraft and of the aircrew automation system.
 11. The aircrew automation system of claim 10, wherein the human-machine interface is configured to display a plurality of tasks on a touch-screen display in a form of a task list, wherein each of the plurality of tasks is marked as either completed or not completed based at least in part on an input from the human pilot via a touch-screen display.
 12. The aircrew automation system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive and aggregate the real-time flight situation data to determine a current aircraft state for the aircraft.
 13. The aircrew automation system of claim 10, further comprising an actuation system configured to mechanically engage the at least one flight control, wherein the actuation system is configured to manipulate the at least one flight control in response to one or more actuation commands.
 14. The aircrew automation system of claim 10, wherein the perception system comprises a vision system or an acoustic system, wherein the perception system is configured to read or comprehend flight situation information provided by the cockpit instruments using the vision system or the acoustic system.
 15. The aircrew automation system of claim 10, wherein the human-machine interface comprises a microphone and employs speech-recognition techniques to recognize a verbal command from the human pilot.
 16. The aircrew automation system of claim 15, wherein the human-machine interface is configured to generate a verbal reply in response to the verbal command from the human pilot.
 17. The aircrew automation system of claim 10, further comprising a knowledge acquisition system operatively coupled with the one or more processors to determine aircraft-specific information for the aircraft during a knowledge acquisition phase.
 18. The aircrew automation system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are configured to identify an anomaly in a behavior of a human pilot or an operation of the aircraft using one or more machine learning techniques, wherein, upon detection of the anomaly, the one or more processors executes a contingency operation to adjust control of the aircraft.
 19. The aircrew automation system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are configured to identify an anomaly as a function of the real-time flight situation data and to generate an alert upon detection of the anomaly. 